Seal-off valve

ABSTRACT

A seal-off valve has a valve body with first and second portions. The first portion forms a passageway to permit the flow of fluid therethrough and the second portion integratedly forms a cavity with the passageway. A flow obstructing means is retained in a first position substantially within the cavity by temperature reponsive retention means which, upon actuation in response to a substantial temperature change, permits the flow obstructing means to be urged to a second position substantially within the passageway.

United States Patent 1 1 Wacker et a1.

SEAL-OFF VALVE Inventors: George A. Wacker, 12507 Windover Turn, Bowie,Md. 20715; George J. Danek, Jr., 1021 Harbor Dr., R.F.D. 3, Annapolis,Md. 21403 Filed: Dec. 23, 1971 Appl. No.: 211,234

11.5. C1. 137/80, 251/68 Int. Cl. F1611 17/38 Field ofSearch..25l/66-69;

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1885 Stearns 137/75 3/1927Currivan 137/76 3/1932 Ke1ley..... 251/66 X 11/1939 Shiels 137/76 113,747,619 1 July 24, 1973 2,638,106 5/1953 Shiels 137/75 3,558,3691/1971 Wang et a1 148/115 Primary Examiner-Martin P. Schwadron AssistantExaminer-Richard Gerard Attorney R. S. Sciascia and Q. E. Hodges [57]ABSTRACT A seal-off valve has a valve body with first and secondportions. The first portion forms a passageway to permit the flow offluid therethrough and the second portion integratedly forms a cavitywith the passageway. A

flow obstructing means is retained in a first position substantiallywithin the cavity by temperaturereponsive retention means which, uponactuation in response to a substantial temperature change, permits theflow obstructing means to be urged to a second position substantiallywithin the passageway.

9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures Patented July 24, 1973 3,747,619

2 Sheets-Sheet l L2-4 LI --1 %ua u\; u Fla. 3. INVENTORS GEORGEwAAClfEE: BY GERG o my ATTRNEY Patented July 24, 1973 2 Sheets-Sheet 2-2 m m m 6 Qu 8 I) m max 3% i f w 2 2 w m H INVENTORS GEORGE A. WACKERGEORGE J. DANEK ATT RNEY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This inventionrelates generally to valves and valve actuation and specifically tovalves operated by joining flow path sections so that the valve motionis transverse to the linear component.

In many processing operations it becomes vital that pipelines carryingpolluting, toxic or hazardous fluids be provided with shut off valvescapable of being automatically or remotely actuated to stop fluid flowwhen there is a potentially dangerous condition in the pipeline such asa fire, rupture, or other such natural or accidental catastrophes. Theneed for such valves has become readily apparent during major oil spillsand fires which have occurred at the sites of offshore oil wells.Presently, no known way exists to satisfactorily stop fluid flow throughpipelines which are susceptible to such potentially dangerousconditions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the present invention provides avalve which is capable of being either automatically or remotelyactuated to stop the flow of fluid through a pipeline. The foregoing isaccomplished by providing a valve with a valve body having a firstportion forming a passageway to permit the flow of fluid therethroughand a second portion integratedly forming a cavity with the passageway.

A flow obstructing means is retained in a first position substantiallywithin the cavity by temperature responsive retention means which may beactuated in response to a substantial temperature change such as mightoccur in the case of a fire. Also, the retention means may be remotelyactuated by heat induced through the use of an electric current passingthrough a wire located adjacent the retention means. Actuation of theretention means permits the flow obstructing means to be urged by aresilient means to a second position substantially within thepassageway. Thus, such a valve or a series of such valves, located alonga pipeline provides a satisfactory means for stopping fluid flow througha pipeline in instances where human access to the valves is eitherimpractical or impossible.

OBJECTS OF THE INVNETION It is therefore an object of this invention toprovide a valve which may be self-actuating to stop fluid flowtherethrough.

It is a further object of this invention to provide such a valve whichmay be remotely actuated at a given time.

Other objects, advantages and novel features of the invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description of the inventionwhenconsidered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional sideelevation of the valve of this invention illustrating the flowobstructing means retained in the first position within the cavity;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side elevation of the valve of FIG. 1illustrating the flow obstructing means lowered to the second positionwith the passageway;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation illustrating thefirst configuration of the retention means; and

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional side elevation illustrating thesecond configuration of the retention means of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1, it canbe seen that the valve of this invention comprises a valve bodygenerally designated 10 including a first portion 12 forming apassageway 14 to permit the flow of fluid therethrough and a secondportion 16 integrately forming a cavity 18 with passageway 14. Flowobstructing means or plunger 20 is in a first position substantiallywithin cavity l8 and is provided to move from the first position asshown in FIG. 1 to a second position substantially within passageway 14to obstruct the flow of fluid therethrough as shown in FIG. 2.

Again in FIG. I, it is shown that temperature responsive retention meansor pins 22, provided within second portion 16, retain flow obstructingmeans 20 in the first position. Pins 22 are provided to be actuated inresponse to a substantial temperature change to permit flow obstructingmeans 20 to move to the second position as shown in FIG. 2.

Resilient means such as coil spring 24 is provided within cavity 18 tourge flow obstructing means 20 from the first position to the secondposition when pins 22 are actuated, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

Pins 22 comprise at least one metal alloy member, preferably two, havinga first configuration (FIG. 3) at a first'relatively low temperature forretaining plunger 20 in the first position and also has .a secondconfiguration (FIG. 4) at a second relatively higher temperature thanthe first temperature for permitting plunger 20 to move to the secondposition. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first configuration of pins 22comprises a relatively greater volume than the second configurationthereof. Pins or metal alloy members 22 preferrably comprise thevariable transition temperature alloy known as 55 NITINOL.

Coil spring 24 is provided to be maintained under compression withincavity 18 when plunger 20 is in either of the first or second positions.

Lock means 26 are spring-loaded within cavity 18 and thus are providedto maintain plunger 20 in the second position, see FIGS. 1 and 2.

Metal alloy member or pin 22 is secured within second portion 16 andextended into cavity 18 when pin 22 is in the first configuration. Inthis position, pin 22 is in supporting contact with flow obstructingmeans or plunger 20 when the plunger is in the first position, seeFIG. 1. Upon actuation, pin 22 retracts out of supporting contact withtion to permit plunger 20 to move to the second position as shown inFIG. 2.

Valve 10 further includes means to be remotely actuated for actuatingthe metal alloy member 22, which means comprises an electricalresistance heating coil 44 adjacent metal alloy member 22. Coil 44isresponsive to electrical current pluses to cause a substantial plunger20 into the second configuratemperature change in alloy member 22thereby actuating the metal alloy member, see FIGS. 3 and 4.

Valve body 10, FIG. 1, is preferrably cast from any suitable metal alloyto integratedly form first portion 12 and second portion 16. Firstportion 12 forms cylindrical passageway 14 and second portion 16integratedly forms cylindrical cavity 18 with passageway 14. One end 12aof first portion 12 is provided with a flange 28 having holes 30. Inthis manner, a mating flange of an adjacent pipeline member (not shown)having holes which may be aligned with holes 30, may be secured by boltsto one end 12a of first portion 12. Similarly, another end l2b, oppositethe one end 12a of first portion 12, may be provided with a flange 32having holes 34 to be secured to a mating flange of its respectiveadjacent pipeline member. Thus, first portion 12 of valve body isincorporated within a pipeline system so that fluid flowing through thepiepline passes unobstructed through passageway 14.

Second portion 16 of valve body 10 is provided to form cavity 18integratedly with passageway 14 as is clearly shown in FIG. 1. Oppositethe intersection of cavity 18 and passageway 14, second portion 16terminates in a threaded end 36 which is preferrably capped with amating threaded removable cap 38.

Threaded holes 40 of second portion 16 are provided to receive threadedretention plugs 42 in which pins 22 are mounted to extend into cavity18. In this manner, plunger is retained within cavity 18 in the firstpositIOl'l.

Between plunger 20 and cap 38, high tension spring 24 is compressedwithin cavity 18. Thus plunger 20 is in a preloaded condition in thefirst position while being retained therein by pins 22. Spring 24 mustbe able to retain its resilient capacity at high temperatures, thereforesteel alloys such as those commonly known as A286 or S816 are preferred.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate retention plugs 42 preferrably formed of 90-10copper nickel alloy because of its high thermal conductivity. Thus inthe case of a fire, heat will readily be conducted through plugs 42 topins 22. Electrical resistance heating coils 44 are located within plugs42 adjacent NITINOL pins 22 so that the pins can be remotely actuated,due to electrical current pulses acting through coil 44 to cause atemperature change in pins 22. Wire 46 connects coil 44 to an externalelectrical source (not shown) through opening 48 in plug 42. Also, pins22 will be actuated due to a temperature change caused by a fire or thelike. Heat is readily conducted through plugs 42 to pins 22. Aspreviously stated, pins 22 comprise the variable transition temperaturealloy known as 55 NITINOL which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,558,369to F. B. Wang et al. NITINOL alloy is worked and heat treated to effecta reversion back to an original configuration as the result of themartinsitic transition of the alloy due to heat treatment.

FIG. 3 illustrates the pins 22 which are cut to length L1 and thendeformed in tension at room temperature (martinsitic state of the alloy)to length L2. Pins 22 are then installed in plugs 42 at length L2 whichrepresents the first configuration of the pins. Pins 22 will maintainthe first configuration at a first relatively low temperature which maybe included in a rather wide temperature range such as any naturallyoccuring environmental temperature. However, when pins 22 are exposed toa second temperature or to the desired transition temperature, i.e. arelatively higher temperature than the first temperature, they willcontract to a second configuration or their original length L1, seeFIGS. 3 and 4. The second temperature may be substantially at 300Fhowever, by suitable choice of the NITINOL composition, the alloy may beprovided with a memory transition temperature of whatever practicallevel is desired. Thus, the first configuration of pins 22 at a firsttemperature comprises a relatively greater volume than the secondconfiguration at the second temperature.

Plunger 20 is correspondingly formed to fit within cavity 18 and ispreferrably formed from a suitable steel alloy. Lower end 20a of plunger20, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 2, rests against pins 22, thus plunger 20is retained in the first position. Upon realizing a sufficienttemperature change, pins 22 contract and spring 24 urges plunger 20downward substantially into passageway 14. It is preferred that end 20aextends into recess 14a of passageway 14 to assure a more stableobstruction to the flow of fluid through the passageway. When end 20a ofplunger 20 is urged into recess 14a, spring 24 is still compressed undera preload thus exerting a downward force on plunger 20. End 20b ofplunger 20, opposite end 20a, has a circular lip portion 200 machinedtherein thus forming a recess for permitting spring loaded lock means 26to extend into position for locking plunger 20 in the second position.

Threaded holes 50 are provided in second portion 16 for mating threadedlock plugs 52. Each lock plug 52 includes cavity 54 which contains lockmeans or lock pins 26 and spring 56. When plunger 20 is in the firstposition, FIG. 1, plugs 52 may be placed into holes 50. Lock pin 26 isurged against plunger 20 by spring 56 and exerts a constant forcethereon. When plunger 20 moves to the second position, FIG. 2, lock pins26 penetrate the cavity 18 and extend into lip portion 200 thus lockingplunger 20 in the second position. The high tensile spring 56 which iscompressed against lock pin 26 is preferrably formed of the A286 or S816alloy as previously mentioned for spring 24.

In operation, plunger 20 is retained in the first position by retentionmeans 22, FIG. 1, thus permitting the free flow of fluid throughpassageway 14. Lock pins 26 are preloaded against plunger 20 and spring24 is preloaded to exert a force against end 20b of plunger 20. When asufficient temperature change occurs and is conducted to pins 22, orwhen electrical impulses are supplied to coils 44 by remote source, pins22 contract from their larger volume, first configuration to theirrelatively smaller volume, second configuration. The change in volume issufficient to reduce pins 22 from L2 to L1 thus permitting plunger 20 tobe urged down ward substantially into cavity 14 by spring 24 until end20a of plunger 20 extends into recess 14a of cavity 14, see FIG. 2. Inthis second position, lock pins 26 are permitted to extend into therecess formed by lip portion 200 thus locking plunger 20 in the secondposition thereby obstructing fluid flow through passageway 14. Valve 10may be rendered operational for re-use by removing lock plugs 52. Cap 38may then be removed to permit spring 24 and plunger 20 to be withdrawnfrom cavity 18. Retention plugs 42 may be removed and new pins 22 mayreplace the used or contracted pins. Retention plugs 42 may then bereplaced in holes 40 and plunger 20 may be lowered into cavity 18 untilend 20a rests on new pins 22. Spring 24 may again be compressed betweenend 2011 of plunger 20 and cap 38 which may be secured tightly onthreaded end 36 of second portion 16. Lock plugs 52 may be replaced inthreaded holes 50 whereby lock pins 26 are compressed against plunger20. Thus, replacement of parts in order to render valve operational islimited to replacement of contracted pins 22 with new pins 22 in theform of the relatively large volume, first configuration.

Obviously many modifications and variations of the present invention arepossible in the light of the above teachings. It is therefore to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, the inventionmay be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.

What is claimed is:

1. A valve comprising:

a valve body having a first portion forming a passageway to permit theflow of fluid therethrough and a second portion integratedly forming acavity with said passageway;

flow obstructing means within said cavity provided to move from a firstposition substantially within said cavity to a second positionsubstantially within said passageway to obstruct the flow of fluidtherethrough;

variable volume retention means within said second portion provided toretain said flow obstructing means in said first position and providedto be actuated in response to a substantial temperature change to.permit said flow obstructing means to move to said second position, saidretention means comprises a material which decreases in volume upontemperature rise; and

resilient means providedto urge said flow obstructing means from saidfirst to said second position when said retention means is actuated.

2. Th e valve of claim 1 wherein said retention means comprises:

at least one metal alloy member having a first configuration at a firsttemperature for retaining said flow obstructing means in said firstposition and having a second configuration at a second temperaturerelatively higher than said first temperature for permitting said flowobstructing means to move to said second position.

3. A valve comprising:

a valve body having a first portion forming a passageway to permit theflow of fluid therethrough and a second portion integratedly forming acavity with said passageway;

flow obstructing means within said cavity provided to move from a firstposition substantially within said passageway to obstruct the flow offluid therethrough; temperature responsive retention means within saidsecond portion provided to retain said flow obstructing means in saidfirst position and provided to be actuated in response to a. substantialtemperature change to permit said flow obstructing means to move to saidsecond position; said retention means comprising at least one metalalloy member having a first configuration at a first temperature forretaining said flow obstructing means in said first position and havinga second configuration at a second temperature relatively higher thansaid first temperature for permitting said flow obstructing means tomove to said second position, said first configuration comprises arelatively greater volume than said second configuration; and resilientmeans provided to urge said flow obstructing means from said firsttosaid second position when said retention means is actuated. 4. Thevalve of claim 3 wherein: said metal alloy member is secured within saidsecend portion and extended into said cavity in said first configurationin supporting contact with said flow obstructing means when said flowobstructing means is in said first position, and upon actuation, saidmetal alloy member retracts out of supporting contact with said flowobstructing means into said second configuration to permit said flowobstructing means to move to said second position. 5. The valve of claim4 wherein: said metal alloy member comprises 55 NITINOL. 6. The valve ofclaim 1 wherein: said resilient means comprises a coil spring maintainedunder compression within said cavity when said flow obstructing means isin either said first or said second position. i 7. The valve of claim 6and further comprising: lock means provided to maintain said flowobstructing means in said second position. 8. The valve of claim 4, andfurther including: means to be remotely actuated! for actuating saidmetal alloy member. 9. The valve of claim 8 wherein said means to beremotely actuated comprises:

an electrical resistance heating coil adjacent said metal alloy memberwhich coil is responsive to electrical current pulses to cause asubstantial temperature change in said metal :alloy member;

whereby said metal alloy member is actuated.

a i- IF

1. A valve comprising: a valve body having a first portion forming apassageway to permit the flow of fluid therethrough and a second portionintegratedly forming a cavity with said passageway; flow obstructingmeans within said cavity provided to move from a first positionsubstantially within said cavity to a second position substantiallywithin said passageway to obstruct the flow of fluid therethrough;variable volume retention means within said second portion provided toretain said flow obstructing means in said first position and providedto be actuated in response to a substantial temperature change to permitsaid flow obstructing meaNs to move to said second position, saidretention means comprises a material which decreases in volume upontemperature rise; and resilient means provided to urge said flowobstructing means from said first to said second position when saidretention means is actuated.
 2. The valve of claim 1 wherein saidretention means comprises: at least one metal alloy member having afirst configuration at a first temperature for retaining said flowobstructing means in said first position and having a secondconfiguration at a second temperature relatively higher than said firsttemperature for permitting said flow obstructing means to move to saidsecond position.
 3. A valve comprising: a valve body having a firstportion forming a passageway to permit the flow of fluid therethroughand a second portion integratedly forming a cavity with said passageway;flow obstructing means within said cavity provided to move from a firstposition substantially within said passageway to obstruct the flow offluid therethrough; temperature responsive retention means within saidsecond portion provided to retain said flow obstructing means in saidfirst position and provided to be actuated in response to a substantialtemperature change to permit said flow obstructing means to move to saidsecond position; said retention means comprising at least one metalalloy member having a first configuration at a first temperature forretaining said flow obstructing means in said first position and havinga second configuration at a second temperature relatively higher thansaid first temperature for permitting said flow obstructing means tomove to said second position, said first configuration comprises arelatively greater volume than said second configuration; and resilientmeans provided to urge said flow obstructing means from said first tosaid second position when said retention means is actuated.
 4. The valveof claim 3 wherein: said metal alloy member is secured within saidsecond portion and extended into said cavity in said first configurationin supporting contact with said flow obstructing means when said flowobstructing means is in said first position, and upon actuation, saidmetal alloy member retracts out of supporting contact with said flowobstructing means into said second configuration to permit said flowobstructing means to move to said second position.
 5. The valve of claim4 wherein: said metal alloy member comprises 55 NITINOL.
 6. The valve ofclaim 1 wherein: said resilient means comprises a coil spring maintainedunder compression within said cavity when said flow obstructing means isin either said first or said second position.
 7. The valve of claim 6and further comprising: lock means provided to maintain said flowobstructing means in said second position.
 8. The valve of claim 4, andfurther including: means to be remotely actuated for actuating saidmetal alloy member.
 9. The valve of claim 8 wherein said means to beremotely actuated comprises: an electrical resistance heating coiladjacent said metal alloy member which coil is responsive to electricalcurrent pulses to cause a substantial temperature change in said metalalloy member; whereby said metal alloy member is actuated.